Yesterday, Kings Dominion announced Tumbili and the re-theme of Safari Village into Jungle X-Pedition. But while we were able to get a quick release up on the website yesterday, there was even more going on at the announcement that we didn’t get the chance to mention! (Five hour drives home after events are for the birds!)
That said, during yesterday’s announcement Kings Dominion released some more details for Jungle X-Pedition, as well as the park’s 20th Anniversary of Halloween Haunt, and a new parade coming to Winterfest. We’re here to catch you up on things you might have missed!
Jungle X-Pedition
We were welcome to yesterday’s event by Andrea Brennan, a representative of the fictional “Whey Foundation,” who gave us some new backstory of the area we were standing in.
Professor Gerald Winston Whey discovered the archaeological site in 1935, and it was named “Site X.” It was thought to be a hoax or lost for many years, but after decades of searching, the Whey Foundation has proven its existence, and it will now be open for the general public to explore.
As the story goes, in 1935, Professor Whey took off in his plane to discover the fabled ruins of an ancient temple complex that he referred to simply as X. Legend had it that visitors that could possess the powers and abilities of the local jungle creatures — monkeys, tarantulas, crocodiles, and more. Professor Whey found those temples, and in the first, he unveiled elaborate carvings celebrating a “monkey spirit” and a “wild, mysterious contraption” that spun the professor high into the jungle canopy.
This “contraption” was later announced as Tumbili, the Swahili word for Monkey.
Personally, it’s great that Kings Dominion has given this area a new backstory, and I’m wondering if Andrea was hinting at a few more changes and re-themes in the area with mentions of Tarantulas and Crocodiles. Purely speculation here, but could we have seen the first hints of re-themes to Scrambler and Avalanche?
Andrea was followed on stage by Kings Dominion’s Director of Marketing & Sales, Scott Clemons, who introduced the park’s Vice President/General Manager, Bridgette Bywater.
Bridgette highlighed the past few years of additions for Kings Dominion, including Twisted Timbers, WinterFest, Grand Carnivale, Grain and Grill, and Coconut Shores. It’s been a great few years of additions.
Scott came back on stage to announce Jungle X-Pedition. There are two areas of the newly re-themed area, including a Base Camp (at the front of what is currently Outer Hanks). The base camp will be home to a new signature dining experience, in the space currently occupied by Outer Hanks.
This new dining experience will also have a bar, featuring local craft beers and specialty cocktails. (Personally, I would love a call-back to the park’s history by renaming the restaurant or bar to Livingston’s, which would also be a good tie-in to the teasers!)
There will also be an “exciting new retail outlet,” which makes me like means that Congo Thrills will also see the “re-theme” knife. More details will be released in the coming months.
Adjacent to Base Camp are the “Ancient Ruins,” containing Tumbili, which will open in Spring 2022.
Halloween Haunt
After noting that season passes make great gifts, Scott was joined on stage by Gadget the Elf, who was told to deliver the presents by Santa, pronto. The first “creepy looking” gift was announcement for Kings Dominion’s 20th edition of Halloween Haunt.
Kings Dominion promises four new terrifying shows, a GrimmWoods maze, and a new “Uprising” scare zone.
Halloween Haunt begins September 25.
WinterFest
Gadget came back on stage to announce that WinterFest was returning to Kings Dominion this season (after a year’s hiatus during Taste of the Season) and as part of the return, the WinterFest Wonderland Parade would be coming to the midways.
Like the parade at Carowinds, which debuted in 2019, Kings Dominion’s floats will be designed by Kern Studios, legendary parade float builders out of New Orleans.
WinterFest begins at Kings Dominion on November 20.
Tumbili
Tumbili has actually been on-site, in pieces, for several months, and keen-eyed park visitors may have been able to spot it from atop the Eiffel Tower, but a better angle may be found on Dominator’s exit platform.
The detailing on these supports is unlike any other theming we’ve ever seen on an S&S 4-D Freespin. Can’t wait for it to open next spring, but in the mean time, we’re ready for Haunt and Winterfest!
For more information about Halloween Haunt, WinterFest and Tumbili, be sure to visit Kings Dominion’s website, and follow the park on social media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
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